Isaac Murphy Sr.

Again death has come and another one of the few remaining pioneers of Berrien Township has passed away. The subject of this notice was a man of sterling integrity; possessing many noble and commendable traits of character which endeared him to a very large circle of neighbors and friends who respected and honored him for his many virtues. His faults were few.

Isaac Murphy Sr. was born in Hardy County, Virginia, September 21, 1811, and died near Berrien Centre, Mich., Jan. 21 1893, aged 81 years and 4 months. When Isaac was four years old his father died and three years later his mother, with seven children, William, George, John, Isaac, Polly, Rebecca and Prudence, moved to Ross County, Ohio. Here his mother married William Michael, father of Noah Michael of Buchanan and his oldest sister, Polly, married Adam Michael, a son of William and half-brother of Noah. Isaac lived with his brother-in-law from his ninth year till he was twenty-one, and came with him to Cass County, Mich., in 1830. In 1832 they moved to Berrien Township.

In 1834, Mr. Murphy and Miss Eliza Jinkins, daughter of Baldwin Jinkins who came to Pokagon Prairie in 1825, were united in marriage and located on section 15, in Berrien Township. Here in the heart of an unbroken forest, in the midst of wild beasts and the savage tribes, they built their little log cabin, and bravely endured the hardships and privations of pioneer life and by dint of long and weary years of indomitable courage, carved out a beautiful and comfortable home, and lived to reap the reward of the labors in the enjoyment of rest and peace and an abundance of the comforts and blessings of a quite and happy home.

Mr. Murphy's brothers and sisters all preceded him to the future life, and nearly all of them lived out their allotted time and all excepting one, Mrs. Rebecca Miller, are resting in the Berrien Centre cemetery.

Mr. Murphy's funeral took place at Berrien Centre Union, Tuesday. Rev. Mr. Rose of Dowagiac, preached from Luke 2:10, "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy."

Mrs. Isaac Murphy

Miss Eliza Jinkins was born near Brownsville, Pa., April 12, 1815 and died in peace and hope of a happy reunion with her husband in the better world Jan 26, A.D. 1893, aged 77 years, 9 months and 14 days.

She came with her parents, Baldwin and Mary Jinkins to Green County, Ohio, when but a few years old, and thence to Pokagon Prairie, Cass County, Mich. In 1825, She was married to Isaac Murphy, April 9, A.D. 1834, and lived with him in blissful union nearly sixty years.

To them were born thirteen children, six sons and seven daughters. Six of these, two sons and four daughters preceded them to the future world. The children who survive them are our four sons, John J., Erastus and Isaac Jr., of Berrien Centre, and Rev. Albert Murphy, of Goodland Ind., and three daughters, Mrs. S.L. Snavely, of Berrien Centre, and Mrs. Rufus Williams and Mrs. Jacob Becker, of Pokagon Township, Cass County, Mich. These with twenty-five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren, mourn their great loss.

Mrs. Murphy was a woman of strong faith in Christ and the efficacy of prayer, and when her husband was taken away she earnestly desired to depart and be with him in the better world. It may be truly said of Mr. and Mrs. Murphy: "They were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided."

The funeral services were held on Saturday, Rev. H. C. Rose, who officiated at Mr. Murphy's funeral on Tuesday, preached a most excellent discourse from Gal. 6:7, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

Mrs. Murphy's funeral was a repetition of her husband's in nearly every particular: the Minister, Rev. H. C. Rose of Dowagiac; choir, the Becker family of North Berrien Centre; Undertaker, D.W. G. Gaugler of Berrien Springs; Pallbearers, Thomas Mars, Norman Nims, Jacob Brenner, Henry Hess, Aron Tony and Pallas H. Webster: Cemetery Sexton, Wm. H. Peck.